I have a set of black clutch/brake levers that I want to install on a 2008 1200C. I'm not particularly mechanically inclined, but I'm not an idiot either. Trying to figure out if this is something I can do myself or if I would have to drain the brake fluid, etc. I've seen some conflicting info on here ...

 

If you have the manual and the appropriate tools, (you'll need some external snap ring pliers). The manual is essential if you don't want to bugger your brake lite switch.

No, you don't have to drain any brake fluid. The brake light switch is the touchy part and you have to know where to put the piece of cardboard to prevent the damage.

The clutch handle is a snap. Just loosen all the tension out of the cable with the adjuster. Remove the snap ring from the pin. Swing the cable around through the slot, remove the pin and remove the handle making note that there is a nylon washer and a nylon bushing to move to the other handle. Make note of how the cable is attached to the handle. Detach the cable from the old handle. Move the anti-rattle spring and screw to the new handle. Re-attach cable and re-assemble. Adjust clutch cable free play as per manual. The hard part if you're not experienced at doing it may be in dealing with those tiny external snap rings. You can't let them fly off, and that's exactly what they want to do. Keep a rag over them as you remove them. Don't lose the little buggers. I have several decades of experience. I had to remove both mirrors so I could get a clear shot at those snap rings. If you try going in at an angle, I promise you the snap ring will fly off.

Brake handle is easier, if you understand that you must remove and re-install the handle gently and carefully to prevent damaging the brake light switch. (The manual explains the procedure.) On some, there is also a master cylinder pushrod cam in the handle that has to go back a certain way. It is easy to get it in backwards, in which case, the front brakes don't work. You have to put things back exactly the way they came out.

It isn't technically hard. You just have to know how to open the external retaining rings only enough to get them off or re-installed over the pins. If you spread them too far they may break or be distorted.

Do you have a pair of external snap ring pliers? That and a 9/16" open end wrench and a 1/2" open end wrench are about the only tools you need. Well, and the wrenches to remove and re-install the mirrors.

I'm going by my 96 Sportster experience. Later years may be slightly different. Go look at what holds the lever pins in place. There should be an external snap ring on the bottom. If you go buy some snap ring pliers, be sure the tips are small enough to fit in those little, dinky holes. A good auto supply/tool store should sell external/internal (convertible) snap ring pliers in various sizes.

Before you pull the pin and take the brake lever off, work it a few times until you locate the brake light switch button. That is a delicate button. Work the handle until you see how it functions, and then take care not to damage it. You don't have to disturb the master cylinder or fluid. Just go slow, work deliberately, and use the proper tools.

Use the manual.

Good luck.

 

Bentwench gave a great description of what to do. It is quite a simple job. The one thing that I would add is that it is easy to distort the shape of the snap clip as you take it off, and if you drop them they can bounce a long way and get lost. A spare one costs about 25 cents. I would advise having a couple of them available before starting the work

 

The hardest part was getting the snap rings off.

 

Thanks for the detailed description. I need to get a manual, first off. Yeah, I've had some experience with the snap rings ... like when they fly off into a parallel universe in your garage, never to be found again.

 

easy money....if you dont have a shop manuel get one but you could do it with out one if you had to